Read a great quote on fatherhood the other day in the L.A. Times. It was near the tail-end of a fascinating interview with the freakishly-good Oscar-nominated actor, Michael Shannon (“Revolutionary Road”, “Boardwalk Empire”, etc.). Shannon was discussing his new role as a father to a young girl in the post-apocalyptic, “Take Shelter”, and mentioned how his real-life role as a father to a three-year-old girl prepared him for the challenges of the part.
On the subject of real-life fatherhood, Shannon had this to say: “You don’t understand until it actually happens. Your imagination can’t prepare you for what a powerful experience it is. It’s literally like a new nerve is inserted into your body and it runs straight into your heart, and it’s directly related to this other person.”
Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever heard it described so well. Especially the part about how your imagination “can’t prepare you for” it. That is seriously, the truest thing I’ve ever heard. Nothing can prepare you for this job, no movie, book, song or inspiring fireside chat with an elder can even begin to prepare you for what lies ahead.
Thanks for putting it so beautifully, Mr. Shannon. Can’t wait to see your new movie!
Stay-at-home-Yeti 
“You don’t understand until it actually happens. Your imagination can’t prepare you for what a powerful experience it is. It’s literally like a new nerve is inserted into your body and it runs straight into your heart, and it’s directly related to this other person.”
So true for parenthood altogether! I never understood until I had kids of my own. I’ve taken care of other kids, I’ve loved kids & felt their love in return as they saw me as a second mommy, but all of that still pales in comparison to the “upgrades” and the outright new things/experiences/emotions you’re exposed to when the child is your very own. I’ve never known that they could teach me patience — that I even had any to begin with, I’ve never known such infinite love like this, I’ve never known selflessness like this to where my kids’ needs & their very life — takes precedence over my own, to the point where I’d die for them if need be. I’ve never felt so blessed, so lucky.
I only wish that other parents felt the same about their own kids. 😦 Unfortunately, there are so many neglected & abused kids out there, and so many parents who never gave themselves a chance to try and be a decent parent… parents who gave up on their kids without actually giving them up so that a loving family could at least provide more for the kids than they’re getting now (like love)…
Amen, Recluse! There was a great scene at the end of a recent “Up All Night” episode where the new parents were left at the curb of the hospital with their new baby by the nurse and were all shocked that no one was gonna tell them what to do next with their kid. It was very funny, but, brings up the bigger issue that some people just don’t know what to do with kids when they have them. It’s strange to me that you have to take classes to learn to drive and such but any old loser can have a kid, and sadly, so many do. I won’t name names, but, there are lots of parents I know who coulda used a couple of Parents Ed courses…yikes!